This New Year, Win in the Game of Love

AARP's Dating Boot Camp offers weekly rewards to help you meet someone special

If finding romance is high on your New Year's resolutions list this year, the AARP Dating Boot Camp may be the perfect first step to keeping it.

Beginning on Dec. 26 and running through the end of February, you can get tips from AARP Dating experts Nancy Davidoff Kelton and Ken Solin, try AARP's new dating service (where AARP members receive a 50 percent discount) and have the chance to win weekly prizes. Plus, two lucky winners will walk away with a $10,000 grand prize and an "Ultimate Dating Starter Kit."

According to the U.S. census, there are some 38 million unmarried Americans 50 and older. Those looking to date may find it to be quite different than it was when they were younger. Many have not been in the dating pool for a while, and others are looking for new ways to meet people but need new ideas.

AARP's Kelton and Solin, both over 50, have many years of experience at using online sites to meet people and set up dates. Says Solin, "The challenge of dating in the digital age is to know what digital devices to use and when. Relax, it's simple."

4. During the nine-week Dating Boot Camp, AARP's dating experts will be in the "Single and Mingle" group daily, answering questions and offering tips for finding love online. Each week, they'll pose a dating challenge or question to the group — fun first-date ideas, for example — to get the conversation going. At the end of each weekly challenge, our experts will award a $50 gift card to a participant who had helpful, interesting or just plain funny answers to the challenges. Spend it as you'd like — on yourself, or for a casual first date with that potential special someone.

At the end of the nine-week AARP Dating Boot Camp — which runs from Dec. 26, 2012, through Feb. 28, 2013 — two winners will be randomly selected and each will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize.

The AARP Dating Boot Camp is a great first step toward finding love and companionship. The more active you are in the AARP community, the better the chances of winning a weekly prize — and connecting with someone interesting.Read the official rules for the AARP Dating Boot Camp.